Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-30


brother--sho now refers with just ndigln.
ton. She has just expressed her desire to
leave Homburg, as the place in which the vile
calumny first took its rise, when tho baron
returns, overhenIs her last words, and says
TO her, 'Yes, leave Homburg by all means;
provided you leave IL In the character of my
lords betrothed wifep
@The countess is startled and shocked. She
protests That she does not reciprocate my
lords admiration for her. She oven goes the
length Of refusing TO see him again. Tho
baron answers, Il must positively have COM
mand of money. Take your choice, between
marrying my lords income, In the interest OF
my grand discovery-or leave mo 10 sell my
self and my title TO the first rich woman OF
low degree who is ready TO buy me-
aThe countess listens in surprise and dis
may. Is it possible that the baron Is in
earnestl He is horribly in earnest. The
woman who will buy me- he says, is in the
next room to us at this moment. She Is the
wealthy widow Ola Jewish usurer. She has
tho money want TO reach the solution OF the
great problem. 1 have only TO be that
woman's husband, and to make myself master
Of untold millions Of gold. Take five minutes
TO consider what have told you, and tell me
on my return which Of us is to marry for the
money / wHnt, you Or H.
] aAs herurns away, tho countess stops him.
"All the noblest sentiments in her mature
are exalted TO the highest pitch. Where Is
! the true woman she exclaims, who want,
time to consummate the sacrifice OF herself
when tho man TO whom she Is devoted do
mands itf
eSho does not want five minutes; she does
not want five seconds-she holds out her hanc
10 him, and sho says: Sacrifice me on the
altar OF your glory Take as stepping stones
on the way to your triumph, my love, my
liberty and my lirep
aOn this grand situation the curtain fall
Judging by my first net, Mr.. Wcstwick, tell
me truly, aud don't be afraid of turning my
head. Am not capable OF writing good
playr
Henry paused between the first and second
acts-re1ecting, not on the merits of the play,
but on tho strange resemblance which the in.
cldents so far presented to tho incidents that
had attended tho disastrous marriage Of the
first Lord Montbarry.
Was it possible that the countess, In the
present CT ndition Of her mind, supposed her
self to be exercising her invention when she
The Al .ostion involved consideration too Sc
rious to ba made the subject Of a hasty decis
ion. Reserying his opinion, Henry turned
tie page and devoted himself to the reading
of the next act Tho manuscript proceeded
as follows;
"The second act opens at Venice. An I'm
terval OF four months has elapsed since the
date Of tho scene at tho gambling table. The
| l.b. la
Of one of the Venetian palaces.
"fhe baron is discovered alone on the
stage. Hc reverts 10 the events which have
happened since the close of the first act. The
countess has sacrificed herself; the mercenary
marriage has taken place-but not without
obstacles caused By difference OF opinion on
the question OF marriage settlements.
"Privnte inquiries instituted ia England
have informed tho baron that my lords CHIEF
income is derived chiefly from what is callel
entailed property. In case of accidents he is
surely bound TO do something for his bride
Lot him, for example, insure his life for &
sum proposed by the baron, and let him Sc
settle the money that his widow will have II
II he dies first
'My lord hesitates. The baron wastes M
time In useless discussion. Let us by al
meais,' be says, consider the marriage a
broken or My lord shifts his ground, nnt
pleads for sInniior sum than the sum pro
posed The baron briefly replies, Il nevei
bargain My lord is In love; the natural re
sult follows--be gives way.
aSp far, tho baron has no cause to com
plain. But my lords turn comes, when th'
marriage has been celebrated, and when th,
honeymoon is over. The baron has joineS
the married pair at palace which they havI
hired In Venice. He Is still bent on solving
the problem Of the Philosophers Stone Hi
laboratory is set up In the vaults beneath til,
palace-so that smells from chemical expert
mentsmay not inoomnode tho countess il
the higher regions OF the house. The on
obstacle in the way of his grand discovery Is
Us usual, the want OF money. HIS position
atAhe present time, has become truly crit
cal He owes debts of honor 10 gentlemen
; In his own rank OF life, which must postivel,
DO paid; and be proposes, in his own friendl,
manner, to borrow the money of my lord
My lord positively refuses, In the rudes
terms The baron applies to his sister to OK
erclse her conjugal influence. She can onl,
answer that her noble husbnnd-being N
longer distractedly In love with her-noy
appears in his true character, as ono OF I'll
{ meanest men living. The sacrifice Of til
marriage has been made, and has nlread
proved useless.
"Shch is the state OF affairs at the openin
! of the second act.
sThe entrance of the countess suddenly di,
turbs the baron's reflections. She is in a stat
" bordering on frenzy. lncoherent expression
! OF rage burst from her lips; it is some tim
before she can sufficiently control herself {
: speak plainly She has been doubly insulte
first, by n mental person In her employ
ment; secondly, by her husband. Her mait
an Englishwoman, has declared that she wi
! serve the countess no longer. She will Civ
: up her wages and return at once 10 England
Being asked her reason for this strange pre-
;. ceeding, she insoently hints that the couI
I, tess service Is no service for an homes
:, womnn, since the baron has entered I'll
house. The countess does what any lady
her position would do; she Indignantly di
misses tho wretch on the spot.
L "Aly lord, hearing his wife's voice raised
auger leaves the study in which he is nccu
toned tc Shut himself up over his books, ali
" asks what this disturbance means. The coul
: tess Informs him of the outrageous inngual
= and conduct Of her maid My lord not on
! declares his entire APPROVAL of the woman
Y ccuduct, but expresses bis own abominab
y doubts Of his wlfe's fidelity, in language
J. fich horrible brutality that no lady cou
= polluto her lips by repeating It, III he
!. been man. the countess says, and II l hs
! had weapon In my hand would ha'
= struck him dead at my. feetp
= "The baron, listening silently so far, no
= speaks. Permit mo TO finish the sentence f
: you' he says. You would have struck yol
a husband dead at your feet, and by that raj
y act you would have deprived yourself OF Il
! insurance money settled on the widow--tl
! very money which is wanted to relieve yol
: brother from tho unendurable pecuniary p
siton which he now occupiesf
"The countess gravely reminds tho barS
q that this is no joking matter. After what II
y lord has said to her she has little doubt til
u he win communicate Instantaneous suspicio
u 10 his lawyers in England. If nothing is do
ie to prevent 1t, she may be divorced and d
& graced md thrown on the world with no !
source but the sale Of her jewels to keep h
= from starving.
~ "At this moment the courier who has be
: engaged to travel with my lord from Englal
Is crosses the stage with letter to take to {
r. post. The countess stops him and asks
u look at the address on the letter. She tax
1t from him Tor moment and shows it 20 b